Wow! Sounds like a great time was had by all. (As if I expected any less from a TC party.) Sorry we couldn't be there. Atomic Cocktail is still in NYC (hangin' with some old film crew buddies at the Met tomorrow!) and I was home hangin' with MamaVintage who's having some serious health issues. (After a medically scary and stressful week I kinda needed the rest too.) But I still thought of you all while fixing dinner and drinking some fruit juice and rum concoction I made. And I, too, wondered how many drinks Al had made at that point.

We had a great time. Thanks so much to A&S for the amazing hospitality. The drinks were fantastic, the Menehune's sounded great, and it was great to see everyone and meet some new folks as well. Thanks also to Bong and Pop for all the help planning. Rebecca really appreciated all the birthday attention and had a great night.

mine was green!! I must've had more eggs than you folks.
_________________I'm the most thirstiesterest of all!
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If you like it, it is ZAZZ! If you don't it is RAZZ!

International Tiki Day is now my new fave holiday! Mahalo to Al & Shelly for hosting (Fabulous Lagoon Room should be upgraded to Fantabulous!) and to everyone who put so much effort into making this celebration a smashing success. The hospitality, music, dancers, food and drinks were da best. And the TC Ohana are always a pleasure to hang with. Had a great time...see you all again soon.

I had a great time in Seattle, but I was so sad I couldn't be there with you guys. Thanks for getting that group shot, at least I have a nice family photo now. It makes me feel all squishy inside knowing I've got such a close 'ohana. Glad you had fun, and it was nice to talk to Al & Sabu on the phone (I found my party after giving up and stopping in at a Kinko's!).

Baxdog and Tiki Bong
If you would like for Tiki Day to further blossom, there are ways.

The two ways to insure people will copy the Tiki Day idea is to build an easy to copy festival model which would make it like Oktoberfest or St. Paddy's in which municiplaities would knock-off the event.

or

Make it profitable, using 501(c)(3) "not for profit status", and fee waivers. This model would be more like Highland Games, which are a boomng business. Some are funded by clubs, others by groups who only exist for the event itself. There is about 1 new Highland Game a year starting now because they are fun and profitable.

I think it would be possible to plan a large party, convince a medium sized town to sponsor it, and get some corporate sponsorship. The key would be careful planning, especially choosing the city, then convincing all parties that they will get what they want out of the event. Towns want positive noteriety, newspapers want cultural diversity, colorful photos, sales and exposure. Alcohol distributors want people associating thier product with fun...

If people are serious about wanting the tiki Day to grow in this manner, it certainly can become it's own discussion topic.

Al 'n Shelly, you are the most wonderful hosts and your house is a work of art as well as a labor of love AND the supreme party pad of the Western World! I loved the Swank Tank too...like a little bit of Futura House dropped out of the sky into your Tiki paradise. Thank you SO MUCH for a magnificent ITD!!! and I hope to see you both again soon! XOX tikivixen

p.s. I have no idea why, folks, but those tinted foods had Absolutely No Effect upon me At All. Kinda disappointing...